Wireless power receiver having an antenna assembly and charger for enhanced power delivery

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of wireless power receivers are disclosed herein. For example, a wireless power receiver comprises an antenna configured to: receive radio frequency (RF) waves from a transmitter; and convert energy from the RF waves into alternating current. The wireless power receiver also includes a rectifier coupled to the at least one antenna that rectifies the alternating current into a direct current; and a charger, coupled to the rectifier, the charger configured to: receive the direct current; and control, via circuitry that is coupled with the charger, distribution of current using conduction paths: (i) to a load, and (ii) to and from at least one storage element coupled with the charger. In some embodiments, the circuitry is configured to select the one of the conduction paths based on: a respective power requirement of the load, a respective power requirement of the at least one storage element, and the direct current.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/748,043, filed on Jun. 23, 2015 which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/584,964, filed on Dec. 29, 2014 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,876,394), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/272,280, filed May 7, 2014 (now abandoned), each of which is herein fully incorporated by reference in its respective entirety.

This application relates to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/891,430, filed May 10, 2013; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/946,082, filed Jul. 19, 2013; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/891,399, filed May 10, 2014; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/891,445, filed May 10, 2013 U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/272,179, filed May 7, 2014; U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/583,625, filed Dec. 27, 2014, entitled “Receivers for Wireless Power Transmission,” U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/583,630, filed Dec. 27, 2014, entitled “Methodology for Pocket-Forming,” U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/583,634, filed Dec. 27, 2014, entitled “Transmitters for Wireless Power Transmission,” U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/583,640, filed Dec. 27, 2014, entitled “Methodology for Multiple Pocket-Forming,” U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/583,641, filed Dec. 27, 2014, entitled “Wireless Power Transmission with Selective Range,” U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/583,643, filed Dec. 27, 2014, entitled “Method for 3 Dimensional Pocket-Forming,” which are herein fully incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates in general to wireless power transmission, and more specifically, to circuit configurations for obtaining and delivering power from radio frequency (RF) waves.

BACKGROUND

Battery-powered systems for delivering continuous and controlled power or voltage to a load may integrate the functions of one buck converter and one boost converter into a single system, automatically switching from buck or boost operation based on the state of the storage element. However, these systems may not properly work with low voltage, variable power sources, and they may be limited in terms of the number of available modes of operation.

What is needed is a power delivery system capable of working with low voltage, variable power sources (e.g. RF waves), while providing the flexibility of different modes of operation.

SUMMARY

A controlled-power delivery system disclosed herein may be capable of using RF waves to deliver continuous and controlled power to a load. In one embodiment, the controlled-power delivery system may include one or more receiving antennas, one or more rectifiers operatively coupled with the receiving antennas, a first boost converter, a charger, an storage element, a second boost converter, and a load. The receiving antenna may convert transmitted RF waves into AC voltage or power that may be converted into DC voltage or power by the rectifier. The first boost converter may step up the DC voltage from the rectifier to a DC voltage level that may be used by the charger for charging the storage element, where this storage element may include a battery or a capacitor. The second boost converter may increase the voltage from the storage element to deliver a suitable voltage level to the load, where this load may include the battery or internal circuitry of an electronic device.

According to embodiments described herein, the controlled-power delivery system may sustain a plurality of operation modes.

In one embodiment, the controlled-power delivery system may exhibit a current conduction path where the power delivered to the load can be obtained only from the storage element.

In another embodiment, the controlled-power delivery system may exhibit a current conduction path where the power delivered to the load can be obtained only from transmitted RF waves.

Yet in another embodiment, the controlled-power delivery system may exhibit a current conduction path where the power extracted from RF waves can be delivered to the load and the storage element simultaneously.

In a further embodiment, the controlled-power delivery system may exhibit a current conduction path where the power extracted from RF waves can be delivered only to the storage element.

In an even further embodiment, the controlled-power delivery system may exhibit a current conduction path where the power delivered to the load can be obtained simultaneously from RF waves and the storage element.

The controlled-power delivery system disclosed herein may be employed in receivers for wireless power transmission, where RF waves may be used for the generation of a suitable and continuous voltage that can be applied to a load. In addition, the controlled-power delivery system may be able to work with low voltage power sources and may be able to support a plurality of modes of operation for improved functionality. Additional features and advantages can become apparent from the detailed descriptions which follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure can be better understood by referring to the following figures. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the disclosure. In the figures, reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical battery-powered system according to some aspects of the prior art;

FIG. 2 shows a controlled-power delivery system for extracting power from RF waves and delivering continuous power to a load, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 depicts a first operation mode that may be implemented in the controlled-power delivery system of FIG. 2, where the power delivered to the load may be directly obtained from a storage element;

FIG. 4 shows a second operation mode that may be implemented in the controlled-power delivery system of FIG. 2, where the power delivered to the load can be directly obtained from transmitted RF waves;

FIG. 5 shows a third operation mode that may be implemented in the controlled-power delivery system of FIG. 2, where power extracted from RF waves can be used for simultaneously powering the load and charging the storage element;

FIG. 6 illustrates a fourth operation mode that may be implemented in the controlled-power delivery system of FIG. 2, where the power extracted from RF waves can be used for only charging the storage element; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a fifth operation mode that may be implemented in the controlled-power delivery system of FIG. 2, where the power delivered to the load may obtained from RF waves and the storage element simultaneously.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is here described in detail with reference to embodiments illustrated in the drawings, which form a part here. Other embodiments may be used and/or other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description are not meant to be limiting of the subject matter presented here.

As used here, the following terms may have the following definitions:

“Pocket-forming” may refer to generating two or more RF waves which converge in 3-d space, forming controlled constructive and destructive interference patterns.

“Pockets of energy” may refer to areas or regions of space where energy or power may accumulate in the form of constructive interference patterns of RF waves.

“Null-space” may refer to areas or regions of space where pockets of energy do not form because of destructive interference patterns of RF waves.

“Transmitter” may refer to a device, including a chip which may generate two or more RF signals, at least one RF signal being phase shifted and gain adjusted with respect to other RF signals, substantially all of which pass through one or more RF antenna such that focused RF signals are directed to a target.

“Receiver” may refer to a device which may include at least one antenna, at least one rectifying circuit, at least one input boost converter, at least one storage element, at least one output boost converter, at least one switch, and at least one communication subsystem for powering or charging an electronic device using RF waves.

“Buck” may refer to a DC-to-DC power electronic converter which may have its output voltage lower than its input voltage.

“Boost” may refer to a DC-to-DC power electronic converter which may have its output voltage higher than its input voltage.

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical battery-powered system 100 according to some aspects of the prior art. Battery-powered system 100 may be used for delivering continuous direct current (DC) power or voltage to a load 102, where this load 102 may include the battery or internal circuitry of an electronic device such a smartphone, a laptop computer, a tablets, a PDA, and a desktop computer, and the like.

In battery-powered system 100, an alternating current (AC) power source 104 may be connected to a transformer 106 which may reduce the AC voltage from power source 104 to a particular AC voltage level depending on the turns ratio of the primary and secondary coils of transformer 106. For example, AC voltage from power source 104 may be reduced from about 120 volts down to about 16 volts.

The reduced AC voltage coming out of transformer 106 may be converted to direct current (DC) voltage by a rectifier 108 which may include 4 diodes for full-wave rectification. That is, the output of rectifier 108 may be about 16 volts DC. Rectifier 108 may exhibit conduction losses due to the voltage drops across the diodes.

The rectified DC voltage can now be applied to a buck charger 110 which may function as a DC-to-DC power converter to drive down the DC voltage to a level that can be used for charging a storage element 112. For example, the 16 volts DC at the output of rectifier 108 may be reduced to about 5 volts DC that may be used for charging storage element 112. Storage element 112 may include a battery or a capacitor. For example, a battery with a voltage level of about 3 to about 4.2 volts can be used for storage element 112.

To make full use of the energy of the storage element 112, a boost converter 114 may be used provide the necessary voltage for load 102. That is, boost converter 114 may step up the voltage from storage element 112 to deliver a suitable voltage level to load 102. As a way of example, boost converter 114 may constantly deliver about 5 volts DC to load 102.

Although some fundamentals of battery-powered system 100 may be used for delivering continuous controlled power to load 102, battery-powered system 100 may be not efficiently operate with variable power sources obtained from RF waves, which may also imply working within low voltage levels.

Wireless power transmission may include the use of RF waves for extracting power that may be used for charging or powering an electronic device. According to some aspects of wireless power transmission, a transmitter may send a beam of RF waves towards a receiver, where these RF waves may generate a 3-D pocket of energy that may be used by the receiver apparatus for charging or powering an electronic device. One challenge that may be present during wireless power transmission is that power or energy extracted from RF waves may be variable due to inherent characteristics of the medium. That is, the environment of transmission may be affected by changes to or movement of objects within the physical boundaries, or movement of the boundaries themselves. It may be also affected by changes to the medium of transmission; for example, changes to air temperature or humidity. Moreover, the power that can be extracted from RF waves may be zero at some instances of the wireless power transmission.

FIG. 2 shows a controlled-power delivery system 200 for extracting power from a variable power source and delivering continuous voltage at suitable levels to load 102. According to some aspects of this embodiment, a variable power source may be in the form of RF waves 202 conveyed from one or more transmitting antennas 204, where these RF waves 202 may be collected by one or more receiving antennas 206. In one embodiment, transmitting antenna 204 may be part of a transmitter (not shown in FIG. 2) capable of directing RF waves 202 towards a receiver (not shown in FIG. 2) for charging or powering an electronic device. Controlled-power delivery system 200 may be part of a receiver suitably configured for wireless power transmission.

Receiving antenna 206 may convert the electromagnetic energy from RF waves 202 into AC voltage. Consequently, a rectifier 208, operatively coupled with receiving antenna 206, may convert this AC voltage into DC voltage. In one embodiment, rectifier 208 may operate in synchronous mode, in which case rectifier 208 may include switching elements that may reduce losses, thereby improving the efficiency of rectification. As an illustrative embodiment, and not by way of limitation, output of rectifier 208 may vary from about 0 volts to about 5 volts DC.

A first boost converter 210 may convert the variable DC output voltage of rectifier 208 into a more stable DC voltage that may be used by a charger 212 for charging storage element 112. First boost converter 210 may operate as a step-up DC-to-DC converter to increase the voltage from rectifier 208 to a voltage level suitable for proper operation of charger 212. As an illustrative embodiment, and not by way of limitation, first boost converter 210 may operate with low input voltages of at least 0.4 volts to about 5 volts DC to produce an output voltage between about 4.2 volts and about 5.5 volts DC. In addition, first boost converter 210 may reduce or eliminate rail-to-rail deviations. In one embodiment, first boost converter 210 may exhibit a synchronous topology to increase power conversion efficiency. In another embodiment, first boost converter 210 may use a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm run by microcontroller (not shown in FIG. 2) to control and maximize the amount of power that first boost converter 210 can pull from RF waves 202.

Charger 212 may include suitable components for controlling the power delivered to storage element 112 and load 102. Charger 212 may include a low dropout (LDO) circuit and/or a synchronous DC-to-DC conversion circuit to charge storage element 112 based on a charging algorithm. Storage element 112 may include a battery, a capacitor, and the like. The charging algorithm used in charger 212 may depend on the chemistry and operational specifics of storage element 112. For example, a lithium-ion battery may require a constant current/constant voltage (CC/CV) algorithm to properly charge. In addition, charger 212 may include circuitry that may allow power to take multiple paths throughout the controlled-power delivery system 200. For example, from input to output; from input to storage element 112; from storage element 112 to output; from input to output and from storage element 112 to output; and from input to storage element 112 and output.

Similarly as in FIG. 1, controlled-power delivery system 200 may include second boost converter 114 to match impedance and power requirements of load 102. Second boost converter 114 may also include a synchronous topology to increase power conversion efficiency.

FIG. 3 illustrates an operation mode 300 that may be implemented in controlled-power delivery system 200 according to an embodiment. Operation mode 300 may exhibit a current conduction path 302 where the power delivered to load 102 can be directly obtained from storage element 112, passing through second boost converter 114.

In one embodiment, current conduction path 302 may be employed when there are power requirements at load 102, but there is either none or not enough power available from in first boost converter 210. Consequently, voltage can be drained from storage element 112, as long as it is not below its set minimum. As previously explained, second boost converter 114 may step up the voltage drained from storage element 112 to suitable levels that can be used by load 102.

FIG. 4 depicts an operation mode 400 that may be implemented in controlled-power delivery system 200 according to an embodiment. Operation mode 400 may exhibit a current conduction path 402 where the power delivered to load 102 can be directly obtained from transmitted RF waves 202.

According to some aspects of this embodiment, current conduction path 402 may be originated when transmitted RF waves 202 may be converted into AC voltage by receiving antenna 206, where this AC voltage can be converted into DC voltage by rectifier 208. First boost converter 210 and second boost converter 114 may step up the rectified voltage to suitable levels that may be used by charger 212 and load 102. In this case, charger 212 may determine that the power or voltage extracted from RF waves 202 is suitable for powering load 102, and/or that storage element 112 may not require charging. In another embodiment, charger 212 may determine that the power or voltage that can be extracted from RF waves 202 is only sufficient for powering load 102.

FIG. 5 shows an operation mode 500 that may be implemented in controlled-power delivery system 200 according to an embodiment. Operation mode 500 may exhibit a current conduction path 502 where power extracted from RF waves 202 can be delivered to load 102 and storage element 112 simultaneously.

According to some aspects of this embodiment, when powering load 102, if there is an excess of power available from rectifier 208 and first boost converter 210, then this excess of power may be used to charge storage element 112. In this way, current conduction path 502 may allow suitable powering of load 102 and charging of storage element 112.

FIG. 6 shows an operation mode 600 that may be implemented in controlled-power delivery system 200. According to some aspects of this embodiment, if load 102 does not require powering, then a current conduction path 602 may be used, where power extracted from RF waves 202 through receiving antenna 206, rectifier 208 and first boost converter 210 can be delivered only to storage element 112.

FIG. 7 shows an operation mode 700 that may be implemented in controlled-power delivery system 200. According to some aspects of this embodiment, a current conduction path 702 may be operable in controlled-power delivery system 200 when charger 212 may be turned off for allowing current flow from storage element 112 to load 102. Simultaneously, power can also be applied from receiving antenna 206, rectifier 208, first boost converter 210 and second boost converter 114 to load 102. Current conduction path 702 may be applicable when the power or voltage that can be extracted from RF waves 202 or storage element 112 may not be sufficient for suitability powering load 102, in which case it may be required to extract power from both, RF waves 202 and storage element 112, at the same time.

The preceding description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments may be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the following claims and the principles and novel features disclosed herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A wireless power receiver comprising: an antenna assembly configured to: receive radio frequency (RF) waves from a wireless power transmitter; and convert energy from the received RF waves into a usable current, wherein the usable current is associated with a first voltage; and a first boost converter, coupled to and distinct from the antenna assembly, configured to boost the first voltage of the usable current to a second voltage that is greater than the first voltage, wherein the first boost converter is configured to boost the first voltage of the usable current to the second voltage according to at least one of an impedance of the load and a respective power requirement of the load; a second boost converter configured to boost the second voltage of the direct current to a third voltage that is greater than the second voltage, wherein the second boost converter is distinct from the boost converter; a charger, positioned between the first boost converter and the second boost converter, and coupled to and distinct from the antenna assembly, configured to control, via circuitry that is coupled with the charger, distribution of the usable current using one or more of a plurality of conduction paths, wherein the circuitry is configured to instruct the charger to: (i) at a first point in time, distribute the usable current to a load using a first conduction path of the plurality of conduction paths, (ii) at a second point in time that is distinct from the first point in time, distribute the usable current to and from a storage element coupled with the charger using a second conduction path of the plurality of conduction paths, (iii) at a third point in time that is distinct from the first point in time and the second point in time, simultaneously use the first and second conduction paths by distributing the usable current to the load using the first conduction path and distributing stored current from the storage element to the load while simultaneously using the first and second conduction paths; and wherein: the circuitry that is coupled with the charger is configured to select the one or more of the plurality of conduction paths based at least in part on: the respective power requirement of the load, a respective power requirement of the storage element, and the usable current; and the storage element is separate and distinct from the load.
 2. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the first boost converter is configured to boost the first voltage of the usable current to the second voltage according to the respective power requirement of the storage element.
 3. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the second voltage matches the respective power requirement of the storage element.
 4. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the second voltage matches at least one of the impedance and the respective power requirement of the load.
 5. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the second boost converter is configured to boost the second voltage of the direct current to the third voltage according to at least one of an impedance of the load and the respective power requirement of the load.
 6. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the third voltage matches at least one of the impedance and the respective power requirement of the load.
 7. A method performed at wireless power receiver including an antenna assembly and a charger positioned between a first boost converter and a second boost converter, and coupled to and distinct from the antenna assembly, the method comprising: receiving, by the antenna assembly, radio frequency (RF) waves from a wireless power transmitter; converting, by the antenna assembly, energy from the received RF waves into a usable current, wherein the usable current is associated with a first voltage; boosting the first voltage of the usable current to a second voltage that is greater than the first voltage via the first boost converter that is coupled to and distinct from the antenna assembly, wherein the first boost converter is configured to boost the first voltage of the usable current to the second voltage according to at least one of an impedance of the load and a respective power requirement of the load; boosting the second voltage of the direct current to a third voltage that is greater than the second voltage via the second boost converter; receiving, by the charger, the usable current from the antenna assembly; and controlling, via circuitry included in the charger, distribution of the usable current using one or more of a plurality of conduction paths, wherein the circuitry is configured to instruct the charger to: (i) at a first point in time, distribute the usable current to a load using a first conduction path of the plurality of conduction paths, (ii) at a second point in time that is distinct from the first point in time, distribute the usable current to and from a storage element coupled with the charger using a second conduction path of the plurality of conduction paths, (iii) at a third point in time that is distinct from the first point in time and the second point in time, simultaneously use the first and second conduction paths by distributing the usable current to the load using the first conduction path and distributing stored current from the storage element to the load while simultaneously using the first and second conduction paths; and wherein: the circuitry that is coupled with the charger is configured to select the one or more of the plurality of conduction paths based at least in part on: the respective power requirement of the load, a respective power requirement of the storage element, and the usable current; and the storage element is separate and distinct from the load.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein boosting the usable current is performed according to the respective power requirement of the storage element.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the second voltage matches the respective power requirement of the storage element.
 10. The method of claim 7, wherein the second voltage matches at least one of the impedance and the respective power requirement of the load.
 11. The method of claim 7, wherein boosting the usable current to the third voltage is performed according to at least one of an impedance of the load and the respective power requirement of the load.
 12. The method of claim 7, wherein the third voltage matches at least one of the impedance and the respective power requirement of the load. 